A woman suffered serious health consequences, including vomiting blood, after purchasing an unlicensed version of the weight loss drug semaglutide from an Instagram seller. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic, a prescribed type 2 diabetes medication. The demand for Ozempic surged due to its association with weight loss, leading to a black market for the drug. The BBC investigation revealed unregulated sellers offering semaglutide online, with samples purchased and tested showing inconsistencies in content.
What do you think can be done to raise awareness among the public about the dangers and consequences of obtaining such medications outside of legitimate healthcare channels?